Boston University has been awarded the 2001-02 Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup it was announced today by Chris Monasch, Commissioner of America East. The Commissioner's Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in America East as determined by a scoring system which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and at championship competition in the conference's 21 sports. It is the first time the Terriers have won the Commissioner's Cup since 1990-91.
Boston University totaled 426 points to easily outdistance second-place finisher University of New Hampshire, which had 309 points. University of Maine was third with 290 points, followed by Northeastern University (283), University of Hartford (279), University of Vermont (247), Stony Brook University (213), University at Albany (196), and Binghamton University (175). Binghamton, which was admitted to membership on July 1, did not compete in any fall sports in America East, with the exception of cross country.
Boston University's point total was bolstered by championships in eight of the 18 sports in which it competes in America East. In addition, the Terriers were runners-up in another championship and regular-season champions in four sports.
Boston University recorded championships in men's basketball, women's cross country, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, softball, men's swimming and diving, women's tennis, and women's indoor track and field. In addition, the Terriers were runners-up in men's cross country. Boston University's men's basketball (co-champions with Vermont), men's soccer, women's soccer, and softball teams were regular-season champions.
New Hampshire's second-place finish was led by a championship in men's cross country, as well as a regular-season title in women's lacrosse and runners-up finishes at the women's cross country, women's lacrosse, women's swimming and diving, and women's outdoor track and field championships.
Northeastern won six conference championships including field hockey, women's swimming and diving, men's indoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field, and volleyball. The Huskies compete in 14 of the 21 sports offered by America East.
Hartford won championships in women's basketball, golf and men's tennis. Stony Brook (men's lacrosse) and Maine (baseball) also won championships. Former America East member Towson University, which departed the conference following the fall season, was the champion in men's soccer.
The Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup is named in honor of the first commissioner of America East. Haskell served as commissioner of the conference from 1987 until his retirement in 1997.
The scoring system for the Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup is as follows: In sports where regular-season round robin competition is conducted, the first place institution in the final standings receives four points times the total number of teams involved in conference play. The second place institution receives four less points; third place receives eight less points, and so on. Additionally, the America East (tournament) champion receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second place institution receives two less points; third place receives four less points and so on down to the last place institution which receives two points.
In sports where regular-season round robin competition is not conducted (cross country, golf, tennis, track and field, swimming and diving), the first place institution at the America East championship receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second place institution receives two less points; third place gets four less points and so on down to the last place team which receives two points.